The trilateral exercise Freedom Edge 24-2 will take place from November 13 to 15 in international waters south of Jeju Island, involving multi-domain training among South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
The Freedom Edge exercise is a defensive drill aimed at enhancing interoperability among the three nations and demonstrating their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula.
The Freedom Edge exercise was first conducted in June 2024 following an agreement among the three countries at the Camp David Summit in August 2023 to initiate multi-domain exercises. This 24-2 exercise is an additional implementation based on an agreement reached among the three nations’ defense ministers in July 2024.
In recent high-level discussions, the three countries strongly condemned North Korea’s provocations, including ICBM test launches, which undermine peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. This exercise reflects their shared commitment to deterring and responding to such threats.
South Korea will participate in the exercise with the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong Ryong (DDG), ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun Sin (DDH), the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, and F-35A and F-15K fighter jets. The United States will deploy the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN), the destroyers USS Higgins (DDG) and USS McCampbell (DDG), carrier-based aircraft, the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and F-35A fighter jets. Japan will participate with the JS Haguro (DDG), the P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, and F-15J and F-2 fighter jets.
The exercise will cover multiple domains, including aerial drills involving fifth-generation fighters, maritime missile defense exercises, anti-submarine warfare, anti-piracy operations, air defense training, and cyber defense training.
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